The Colorado River Delta once again features flowing water, as the river and Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, became reconnected after 16 years of separation.The river was reinvigorated by an experimental flood of water released earlier this spring from the Morelos Dam just south of where California, Arizona and Mexico meet. The experiment, called a "pulse flow," slowly sent water traveling down more 100 miles of barren delta.

The dam release came after many years of lobbying by environmental groups. The dried-up delta has seen inconsistent water flow for the last 50 years.

Conservationists hope the Colorado River's reconnection with the Sea of Cortez will spur new tree growth, restore habitat, and encourage birds and other wildlife to return to area.

"I think it's more important to us as human beings and our sense of what is right for our river, then it is in terms of a particular ecological goal …

India's prime minister-elect Narendra Modi on Saturday vowed to clean up the holy river Ganges, sacred to millions of Hindus but seeped in filth due to years of apathy and neglect.

The Hindu nationalist leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party -- who is set to be sworn in as premier next week -- made a fervent plea to the people of Varanasi, the city through which the river flows, to help restore the pristine glory of the Ganges.

"When I see the pitiable condition of the Ganges I feel pained," Modi told his supporters on the banks of the river where he offered prayers as thanksgiving for his party's landslide win in the parliamentary elections.

"The need of the hour is to restore the glory of the Ganges. Today Mother Ganges is calling us... to make the river clean once again," he said to a roaring applause from hundreds of supporters.

The belief that the Ganges washes away sins entices millions of Hindus into the river each year…